Affirmative Action -- Sexual Orientation

The U.S. government first required affirmative action in 1965 as a way to remedy past discrimination against minorities, women, disabled individuals and covered veterans. Affirmative action means that a company must take steps to increase the recruitment, hiring, promotion and retention of protected groups in its workforce.
Sometimes...

By now, West Virginia employers are familiar with the West Virginia Human Rights Act and, if unfortunate enough to have been accused of discriminatory employment practices, are equally if not more familiar with the practices and procedures of the West Virginia Human Rights Commission. Many West Virginia employers with operations in...

This month, we look at Wisconsin's Contract Compliance Law, located at Wis. Stat. § 16.765, which requires certain contractors that provide goods or services to the state of Wisconsin to comply with several employment-related affirmative action requirements. The law generally applies to most state contractors for goods and...

As we noted briefly in our last issue, Illinois has banned employment discrimination based on sexual orientation. The legislation was signed into law by Governor Rod Blagojevich on January 21, 2005, and takes effect January 1, 2006. Let's look at some of the specifics of the new law.
Simple change
In form, the...

When we think of equal employment, we naturally think of the prohibitions against discrimination and retaliation containedin the KCRA. Many employers aren't aware that a second Kentucky law may pose additional obligations. If you have or want to have a contract with the Commonwealth of Kentucky or any of its political subdivisions...

Each month, the editors of Massachusetts Employment Law Letter answer one or more questions about labor and employment issues of general interest selected from our readers' submissions. If you have a question, please submit it to "Ask the Editor" c/o Susan G. Fentin, Esq., Skoler, Abbott & Presser, P.C., One Monarch Place,...

It's a new year. The mistletoe and menorahs are taken down and packed away, the snow is melting, and it is time for the Super Bowl. But don't forget the multitude of labor and employment law "gifts" that Congress and the courts gave you in the past two years. Many of the most important decisions and developments have been detailed...

"Affirmative action" is a much discussed and debated subject. We hear political candidates talk about it. We read about it in newspapers and magazines. Occasionally, we learn that courts make rulings on the subject.
But what is affirmative action? The concept means different things to different people. Even from a narrow...

. . . new law effective January 1, 1998 . . .
The 1997 New Hampshire Legislature enacted a law to forbid employment discrimination on the basis of "sexual orientation." The bill was signed by Governor Shaheen on June 9, 1997, and will take effect on January 1, 1998.
Sexual orientation thus joins age, race, sex,...

This article is the second in a series on the five biggest mistakes made by employers and tips on how to avoid them.
Employer Mistake Number Two: Inadequate Employment Documentation The most effective way for an employer to avoid liability in a lawsuit is to show that it acted in a fair and rational manner, and...